Training

Revolution March Multan: Dr Qadri announces ten-point national agenda

The movement for change, which started with a bang on December 23, 2012, reached
Multan on February 22, 2013 as the people of the ancient city and adjoining areas
created history by giving a resounding welcome to Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri. Severe
weather conditions including rain could not weaken the resolve of the marchers who
stood their ground and listened to the keynote address of their leader with rapt
attention. A large number of women and children also attended the march and the
mammoth public meeting held in the Sports ground.

Earlier, Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri led the march. The people of the city threw rose petals
and chanted slogans in favour of change in the system. The march concluded in the
form of a gigantic public meeting where Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri delivered his keynote
speech.

Addressing the participants, Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that the raging ocean of
people in Multan was proof of the fact, if any proof was needed, that the people
of Pakistan were aware of their rights and had stood up to get them. He said that
no power of the world could block or hinder their struggle. He said that no political
party of Pakistan could hold a public meeting in rain, adding that it was PAT, which
challenged the repressive and unresponsive system and whose workers demonstrated
their commitment to ideology of change. He said that the people faced harsh and
rainy weather in Islamabad Long March and the repeat of the same was now underway
in Multan.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that Muhammad Ali Jinnah launched his struggle for attainment
of a separate homeland for the Muslims of sub-continent and the people honoured
him with the title of Quaid-e-Azam due to accomplishment of his objective. He said
that it was unfortunate that the landlords, industrialists and the vested interests
had kept the country under their occupation for last 65 years, which had rendered
the country hollow. He said that when Quaid-e-Azam was waging a struggle for Pakistan,
the forces of status quo stood against him and opposed him tooth and nail, adding
that he was even called ‘Kafir-e-Azam’ by the protégés of the then establishment.
He said that the opponents went to the extent of branding the great Quaid as ‘agent
of the British imperialism’.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that the struggle launched by Quaid-e-Azam was still under
way because his mission and dream was no different from that of the Quaid and Allama
Iqbal. He said that wealth, luxuries, resources and power were under the exclusive
control of the moneyed classes and the common people including labourers and workers
were deprived of even the basic necessities of life. These people, who are the real
owners of this country, were incarnation of deprivation and helplessness. He said
that he dreamed of Pakistan which should become a developed country in the comity
of nations, where people had respect, honour, security of life, and lived in peace.
He said that he wanted a country whose men were determined in their resolve, whose
women were epitome of respect and honour and whose youth saw a bright future for
themselves in their country.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that the time was not far away when the roots of the repressive
system would be cut down. He asked people to keep moving on, adding that a combination
of power and money had bought everything including Parliament. He said that capital
could buy everything but it should be kept in mind that the poor’s conscience was
not purchasable. He said that his struggle had unmasked the so-called players since
December 23. He said that it was now on people to differentiate between forces of
truth and falsehood.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that he ended his sit-in through an agreement in line
with the spirit of Constitution and democracy so that democratic system could not
be wrapped up. He said that we held the historic event peacefully. The people braved
worst weather conditions under the open skies. He said that not even a single leaf
was plucked nor a glass was broken. He said that there was no parallel of such a
mega peaceful event in Pakistan.

Dr Qadri said that when we knocked on the doors of law, we came to know that
what was outside did not correspond to what was inside. He said that he did not
bother if his intention was doubted adding that history of Prophets proved that
the opponents doubted the intentions of Hazrat Noah (RA). He said that he who talked
of rights of the people was branded as foreigner, bemoaning that those were given
certificate of bona fide nationals who plundered national resources and laundered
their wealth abroad.

Addressing the people, Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that he wanted to tell them that
he was not alone in his struggle. The youth, daughters, mothers, poor, peasants,
workers and the sisters of Pakistan stood by him. He said that he was fighting a
war for restoration of rights of the poor who were robbed of everything they had.
He said that the ruling elite was the custodian of democracy and had monopoly on
resources and decision making. They did not give people anything except starvation,
poverty, suicide, deprivation and disappointment.

He stated categorically that he did not accept the Election Commission as it
was not constituted as per provisions of the Constitution. He said that the Election
Commission was now talking of implementation of Articles 62 and 63, adding that
when he raised his voice for electoral reforms and implementation of these provisions,
he was accused of conspiring to delay the elections.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that the honourable Supreme Court, which never talked
of implementation of Articles 62 and 63 in the country, was now talking of compliance
with Article 218. He asked as to what the apex court was doing earlier on.

He further said that while the system protected the interests of the feudal lords,
it crushed the poor farmers. He said that division of canal water was unequal and
unjust. He said that agricultural inputs were either short or being sold on exorbitant
prices. He said that agricultural market was not developed while the poor were shackled
in poverty, police and court cases which lingered on for decades on end, sapping
their time and energy.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that desperation had penetrated so deep in the society
that the people were unsure of change. He said that the state of Pakistan needed
to be reconstructed and rebuilt. He said that the political system would have to
be reformed in order to put an end to the forces of terrorism and extremism. He
said that change of educational and economic system was equally important to give
people a stake in the polity. He said that the country needed broad-based changes
and fundamental reforms.

Speaking on the occasion, PAT President Dr Raheeq Abbasi said that it was the
largest public gathering of Multan’s history in the sports ground. He said that
the people had got together under the leadership of Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri. He said that
revolution was our destination and no power of the world could stop us from marching
on through peaceful and democratic means. He said that Multan’s meeting was the
third public meeting of first phase of revolution marches and Rawalpindi would be
the next venue of yet another mammoth public meeting. He said that Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri
would make a big announcement in that public meeting in Liaqat Bagh on February
17. He said that all patriotic people looked up to Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri for leadership
in these dark times.